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Thursday, May 28, 2020

Is there any clinical evidence that andrographis is effective against the coronavirus?

William Boger, Gigafact Foundry
no

Traditional Chinese medicine has been deployed against COVID-19, despite a lack of reliable clinical studies of the type used to prove the safety and efficacy of new products from the international pharmaceutical industry.

Andrographis, a plant native to South Asia, is often used against ordinary flu. In a 2014 study, extracts and compounds showed "significant" returns in anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and immunostimulant tests. A 2017 study showed that compounds from the plant formed a foundation to "restrain virus replication and virus-induced [pathogens]." In May, a computer simulation revealed that the related chemical compound andrographolide showed potential against the inhibitor region of the main protease of the coronavirus.

There are as yet no practical studies or human trials of andrographis' direct effect on the coronavirus.

Sources

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